Our 1977 Corvette Has Quite A Fascinating Story

The Corvette Is Over 60 Years Old.

It was a long time coming, but this 1977 Corvette found us.The herb basil was is the key component to how this 1977 Corvette ended up in my garage.

Let's start off by saying, "I am a fussy cook", and have to have all the right ingredients to any recipe I am preparing. It was on a Monday, and I had prepared a Bolognese sauce earlier in the day to be served for dinner. I had plans to serving a Caprese salad to compliment the dinner. Well, about 30 minutes before dinner, I went into the frig and discovered I had no Basil for the salad. My husband offered to run out to the market to fetch a bit of basil. I requested he go to a market that was a little farther away than our local supermarket, due to the better choice of fresh vegetables, and he obliged.

Upon his return, he told me that while in route to the market he had spotted a mint condition Black 1977 Corvette, with a red leather interior for sale at a garage sale. We had dinner, and as I ate I thought of a time in our lives when my husband was crazy about a certain car. That car is a 1977 Corvette, to be more specific a black Corvette with the red leather interior. The year 1977 was a good year for the Corvette, it possessed that long molded front end and a short back end. It was the car every guy wanted, the "baddest" car on the road. However, in 1977 we were raising two children, on a pretty tight budget. There were lots of bills to pay each month, with little left for anything, let alone a flashy Corvette.

I got to thinking what a hard-working, good provider my husband had been throughout our 47-year marriage, and I realized he never actually bought any "toys" for himself in these many years. As we started to clear the table, I said, let's buy that Vet. He looked at me with a stunned look, and said, "lets at least go look at it".

We left the dishes and headed out the door. The car was pretty much in mint condition, it had been up to date what is known as a "trailer car". It had only 2,300 miles on it, and the red interior still smelled of new leather. It was spotless, looked as if it just rolled off the line. Plus, It only had two owners, one a Detroit Detective, that trailered the car all over the United States, and won some 34 trophies, one that included the "Concours D'elegance". The present owner had kept the car stored, and drove it sparingly. It came with all its original paperwork and a detailed provenance of the life of the car.

It so seemed this car was meant to find my husband... We knew we had to buy this car. At this point in our lives, we could afford the car, and I felt that fate had dealt us a blessing. it may have been a long time to come, but this 1977 Corvette found us.

We named the car "it's So Us"... I guess this ages us a bit, but after all - it's a 1977 Corvette, a car "Batman" would be proud to call his own.

Our 1977 Corvette Has A History Of Being A "Therapy Car"

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This Vet Had An Unbelievable Past! - A story of sorrow, and victory ...

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The Second Owner Had All The Clues To The Cars Interesting History

The gentleman we purchased the Corvette from supplied us with a detailed background on the cars history, he also gave us all the paperwork he received from the original owner, and a copy of a Corvette News December January 1980 issue, that showed the original owner on the cover with our newly purchased car. Inside was a two page write up of the story of how the original owner ended up with his 1977 black Corvette. The article was titled "The Long Fight Back".

The owner's name was Allen Krasich, he was a Detroit Detective. On November 24, 1975 "Al" was at the end of his workday. Al and his partner "Jim Neimeth" were headed back to headquarters to call it a day, when a call came in over the car police frequency radio - "shooting in progress".

He and his partner quickly responded, and headed toward the address of the shooting activity. upon arriving they saw a body in the middle of the street. After asking other officers to cover him, Al made his way to the body to ascertain if the person was alive, and in need of immediate medical attention. Shots rang out, and Al collapsed near the shooting victim. His left leg had been shattered by a bullet. Al could not move, and more than half an hour elapsed. The gunman continued to shoot at the policemen, keeping them from helping Al. It was then Al got hit a second time in the hip. Tear gas was lobbed, which resulted in the building catching on fire. The gunman was killed by officers as he came out of the building firing his gun.

Al was taken to the Emergency Room At Ford Hospital, he had lost a lot of blood, and doctors found that two bones in his lower left leg were shattered. The doctors felt his leg might have to be amputated. Al was in critical condition...In the days to follow Al's condition seem to improve, amputation was put off. He had a series of operations to attempt to repair the damage. After three months Al was released from the hospital. he returned home in a cast that engulfed his entire leg up to his hip. The doctors were doubtful that he would ever walk again.

Al was forced to take a disability from the police department, unable to work at a job he loved.Recuperating at home Al still got plenty of attention from a nurse by the name of "Fran" that had cared for him at the hospital. His friends, family, and Fran became concerned about his mental outlook on life. He was severely depressed, at losing the ability to walk, and work. The Doctors encouraged him to become involved with a project that would keep his mind, and body active. He seemed uninterested in their suggestion. Fran, often heard Al talk about loving cars, especially Corvettes. With Fran's encouragement, Al decided to buy a Corvette. A shiny Black number, with a red leather interior.

It was Fran, now Al's wife that drove the Vet to their home, with Al sitting proudly at her side.

The new Corvette quickly seem to bring Al back to his former self. He daily worked on the car, it was said that his Vet had a mirror finish due to all the polishing, and care Al had given the car. He began to trailer the car all around the Country to some of the best better car shows, winning trophy after trophy. The best part of the story, Al was eventually able to walk with a brace, and some say at times leaning on his wife Fran.

When the second owner bought the car, it had only 372 miles on the odometer... The day we purchased the car the owner claimed, " when I bought the car it looked as if it just rolled off the assembly line". He claimed he was almost afraid to drive the car, he had been a friend of Al, and it seems as if he really wanted to respect Al's memory by caring for the car that brought his friend back to life.

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The car is now driven, and back to winning trophies at Corvette shows in the Michigan area.

Photo taken at the Corvettes 60th Birthday Party In Downtown Detroit | Source

My Husband And I Got To Attend The Birthday Party In The "D", And Show Off Our Classic 1977 Corvette

The Corvette is one of the iconic cars of the century, and it just turned 60. My husband and I were lucky enough to attend the birthday bash in Detroit. The big event was held on June 30th, 2013, at General Motors Headquarters on the "Riverwalk" at the foot of the Renaissance Center. Over 200 Corvettes were on display, from classic 1953 Corvettes to a few fresh off the line 2014 models. There were souped up custom Vets with Gull-wing doors, chromed out to the max, side by side with original untouched classic Vets. For as far as the eye could see was an unending wave of color, and fabulous molded fiberglass Corvettes. The atmosphere was electric, so many car enthusiasts, all displaying their "pride and joys".

The "Corvette's 60th Birthday party bash was orchestrated by Larry Courtney, and his lovely wife Verna. "Larry" is well known in Corvette circles for his annual Wednesday Corvette Charity Cruise, where he and his wife collect food for the less fortunate. The annual Wednesday before the Woodward Cruise draws Corvettes from all over the United States. When Larry put out the call to celebrate the 60th Birthday of the Corvette for charity, Vet owners came from all over Metro Detroit, Flint, and Ohio showed up to celebrate, and show support. The festive celebration culminated in a Corvette cruise, that proceeded down Jefferson to Belle Isle. What a great parade, what a great day!

My husband and I own a 1977 Corvette and enjoy showing the car at local Michigan Car Shows. This car has brought a lot of fun into our lives. We not only get to hang out at the fun car shows, cruise for charity, but in addition, we have met some great new friends along the way. The 1977 Corvette we enjoy, came to us in rather a strange way, and actually, the car itself has a very interesting past. I hope you will read on, I will share how we became vet owners, and the interesting past our 1977 Corvette brings with it.

Detroit Tiger Mascot "Paws" Could Not Keep His Paws Off Our Vet !

Paws Get Your Claws Off Our Corvette

"Do you know how much time goes into keeping this car so shiny?"

Paws showed up at the party, as he does at many events in Downtown Detroit, He is well loved around town, and everybody wants their picture taken with this hometown mascot. We were lucky enough to have Paws take a liking to our Vet, as you can see we had a lot of fun posing with this feline. He is a great sport...

I quickly forgave Paws for his misbehavior...As you can see we became fast friends!

Having Good Friends along made the day even more special

The Corvettes 60th Birthday party was so much fun, However, having a some great friends along made the day all the more special. Ken, and Bev Torri are Corvette lovers, they own a wonderful 1978 Anniversary Edition.

Al's Corvette still looks like new. We keep it in mint condition from paint to the engine compartment. It shines just like Al would want it to shine. We have had it a couple of years, and it wins any show we enter it in, just like it did with Al. This car is pretty special, and it now belongs to a pretty special guy. I guy who waited 36 years to get that special Black Corvette, with a red leather interior.

"It's So Us" Has Been Invited To The "Motor City Corvette Concours Show". We feel privileged to have receive an invite to the Motor City Corvette Concours

Guestbook Comments

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sending

Jan Boykin 12 months agofrom Keizer, Oregon

I lived in Detroit and worked at the General Motors proving grounds for a couple of years. I was a janitor so I had keys to all of the Engineers offices and could see the newest designs on their desks. It was great fun to see all those brand new designs, almost first.

On a darker note, I was at the proving grounds doing things outside, so I could watch them testing the 'vetts. And the 2nd one they tested blew up, the driver had died. It was awful and so somber for awhile at work. Made me kind of afraid of Corvettes for a little while.

Finally I realized that this is why they put all their cars on the tracks for testing. Better something awful happens here, than in the real world!

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